Maryland coach Randy Edsall knows his program can't just jump into the flow of Big Ten tradition. There has been talk of a blossoming rivalry between the Terrapins and Penn State, which has been fueled by words exchanged between Edsall and James Franklin on the recruiting trail.

Franklin said at a Coaches Caravan stop in May that schools in Maryland and New Jersey "don't have a chance" to out-recruit Penn State and that he considers both regions "in-state" recruiting options. Edsall responded last month by saying that "talk is cheap," and that it's not Maryland's style to "boast or brag."

Franklin has already entered Maryland's backyard to poach four-star prospects Adam McLean and Kamonte Carter, the Nos. 2 and 6 players in the state, according to 24sports.com's composite rankings. The Nittany Lions also got a verbal pledge from three-star defensive end Jonathan Holland, who's listed as the state's No. 14 player.

Maryland and Rutgers officially arrived as members of the Big Ten Conference yesterday, so the rivalry question was raised again. On bordering states, with two coaches of differing philosophies and plenty of potential for competition for recruits, Penn State and Maryland have the natural ingredients for a rivalry.

That doesn't mean it will be born overnight, Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany cautioned to the Washington Post. His comments were made in response to conversations between Maryland, Penn State and Rutgers to develop rivalry trophies for their head-to-head matchups.

"That's school to school," Delany said. "It develops more organically. I'm not saying you can't create a trophy. I think these rivalries will happen quite naturally based on a bad officiating call, a great individual performance, an upset, securing a championship. That's really the stuff of memories. Memories translate into traditions."

Edsall echoed that sentiment and added the missing ingredient: Winning. Neither Maryland nor Rutgers will be viewed as a serious rival to any program until they begin to compete, and beat, the Big Ten's best.

"We've played Penn State 37 times, and we're 1-35-1 against them," Edsall told Cleveland.com yesterday. "There have been some great games during that series and anytime you have a bordering state you always have a chance to have a rivalry. But we have to do something about that. We have to make it a rivalry by beating them. But that's the thing – I think rivalries develop. They're not made, they're developed."

In terms of early success, Maryland is a step ahead of Rutgers in its ability to compete right away. The Terrapins are experienced and have a core of veterans at the skill positions to cause problems from the outset. All-America candidate Stefon Diggs, one of the Big Ten's most explosive players, leads a talented trio of wide receivers.

Penn State and Rutgers kick off the Big Ten season on Sept. 13 in Piscataway. PSU and Maryland meet on Nov. 1 at Beaver Stadium. What happens on those dates will be the first real step toward any potential rivalry.